by Paolo Affatato
Colombo – “Reconciliation among the various communities of Sri Lanka and the healing of the wounds left by almost thirty years of civil war are now an integral part of the Church’s mission in Sri Lanka,” Father Nayagam Roy Clarence, a priest of the Diocese of Kandy and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Sri Lanka, told Fides. He recalled a conflict that shook the country for 26 years and still leaves profound social and political consequences. “Both the Tamils and Sinhalese,” Father Clarence noted, “suffered deeply during the conflict. Even today, there are communities marked by pain, widows, families who lost loved ones, people waiting for the restitution of their lands and a stable political solution. In this delicate and wounded context, the Church continues to be a place of encounter, dialogue, and reconciliation.” “In the Catholic community,” observes the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, “Tamils and Sinhalese live side by side. For this reason, the Church has played, and continues to play, a fundamental role in building peace, accompanying people on the path to healing from the traumas of war.”
Organizations such as Caritas Sri Lanka, the Pontifical Mission Societies, and numerous religious congregations have promoted programs of dialogue, support, and reconciliation. “Forgiveness and the rebuilding of relationships have become an essential part of our Christian witness,” he affirms. During the war, a kind of wall existed between the north and south of the country, preventing people from meeting. “After the conflict, freedom of movement fostered new relationships and greater mutual understanding,” recalls Fr. Clarence, who shares his personal experience: “I was a seminarian when the war ended. Seminarians from the north were able to go to the south and vice versa. In this way, we experienced firsthand the pain of others and understood the suffering of many families. From this awareness, forgiveness and the healing of relationships were born.” Many young Sinhalese people said, “The Tamils aren’t what we imagined.” And young Tamils said the same about the Sinhalese. “Today, as Sri Lankans, one people,” he adds, “we continue to learn from our history and our mistakes. We want to build a peaceful nation, based on harmonious coexistence and mutual respect.”
Ten years after the end of the civil war, the country suffered another deep wound: the Easter Sunday attacks of April 21, 2019. “The Church has always called for transparency and justice,” the priest affirms. “Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, along with all the bishops of the country, has addressed the issue with great determination. We continue to demand that the whole truth be brought to light.” According to Father Clarence, after the attacks, the risk of a spiral of violence was very high. “Church leaders,” he recalls, “put themselves at risk to prevent any form of revenge.” They called for calm among the population and became instruments and symbols of peace. A significant interreligious commitment has developed, involving Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu leaders and representatives of other Christian denominations.”
“Today, the case remains highly visible, as does the will to continue the search for truth and justice. New investigations are currently underway, and we hope they will yield concrete results. The victims were innocent people: children, young people, entire families attacked during Easter celebrations. They have a right to truth and justice. The whole country awaits the conclusion of the investigations.”
In recent years, Sri Lanka has also faced a severe economic crisis and, in November 2025, the devastating Cyclone Ditwah, which hit the country hard, especially the central region and the Diocese of Kandy. “Many families have lost everything and are rebuilding from scratch,” he recounts. “The social situation remains difficult: people struggle every day for their livelihood.” There is a slow improvement compared to three years ago, but there is still a long way to go. The new government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is trying to address the problems, but the challenges remain numerous, and in this recovery phase, the Church is always by the side of the people. During the economic crisis and after the cyclone, the Church offered immediate assistance: “We accompanied the most vulnerable families with basic necessities, spiritual and psychological support. In this way, many people did not feel abandoned.” Among the persistent social problems, the priest highlights regional inequalities , ethnic tensions, unemployment, and increasing emigration due to a lack of opportunities.
“In all these trials, the flame of faith has never been extinguished,” says Father Clarence. The Church wants to continue being a sign of hope and an instrument of unity for all the Sri Lankan people. This “flame,” the National Director emphasizes, has ancient roots and a Christian history rich in testimonies of faith and resilience, which serves as inspiration for the present: Although it is commonly thought that Christianity arrived with the Portuguese in the early 1500s, some archaeological finds, such as a Nestorian cross, attest to an earlier Christian presence. With the arrival of the Portuguese, the faith experienced a strong missionary impulse, but also endured difficult times. During the subsequent Dutch domination, starting in the mid-1600s, Catholicism was banned, priests were expelled, and the country remained without sacraments for almost thirty years.” Indeed, the Calvinist authorities of the Dutch East India Company severely restricted Catholicism, favoring the Dutch Reformed Church. “Yet the people never abandoned the faith: it was primarily the laity who kept it alive. A decisive moment was the arrival of Saint Joseph Vaz , the “second founder” of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, who arrived from Goa, India, with only one assistant. Thanks to his courage and that of the priests who followed him, the Catholic community experienced a rebirth. “Learning from this story of Providence, we know that God does not abandon us and we move forward with faith and hope,” he concludes.
The National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies looks with confidence to the future of the country: “Sri Lanka is a small and beautiful island. Our people are peaceful and welcoming. The hope is that, by remaining united and in solidarity, we can continue to live in peace and prosperity.”
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